COTABATO CITY, Nov. 19 (PNA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched Monday the Nationwide Overall Assessment Hazards (NOAH) project in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as part of the country’s disaster preparedness program.
The project involves the installation of 36 weather stations in strategic locations across the ARMM, which serves as pilot area in Mindanao.
Myrah Alih, DOST-ARMM secretary, said the stations are equipped with advanced hydro-meteorological (hydromet) devices, hybrid automated weather station, wind monitoring system, automated rain gauges and water level monitoring system.
She said the equipment would be used to gather data used in weather forecasting and also for long-term research particularly on climate related issues.
ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Twenty-six of the 36 hydromets have been turned over to local government units, which would require the allocation of five percent of their calamity fund for the security and maintenance of the equipment,
Smartphones and internet applications would also be made available for users to access information provided through the project every 15 minutes, said Ali. (PNA)